Ex-Cop Says His Blackface Performance For “Baltimore 6” Isn’t Racist

Berger, an ex-cop who was fired in 1984 for his performances in blackface, says his routine does not contain “one iota of racial overtones.”

A former cop planned to feature a blackface performance to raise money for six Baltimore officers charged in the death of Freddie Gray.

Bobby Berger, 67, was once fired from his department for his impersonation of Al Jolson, a white entertainer best remembered for his blackface routine in the early 20th century.

However, he still thinks reviving the controversial act for cops indicted in the death of an unarmed African-American man doesn’t contain “one iota of racial overtones" in it.

“There’s not a prejudiced bone in my body, I would never do anything to insult anybody. I wouldn’t do that show if I thought it was insulting … It feels like the right time to put some money in these family's pockets,” he explained in an interview with Ebony.

The event had sold 600 tickets. Fortunately, it was cancelled after drawing heavy criticism.